The automaker is increasing the “green” profile of its Prius operations (which, as you read here last week, is slated for possible spinoff into a sub-branded "family of vehicles") through environmentally conscious production plants, setting in place a slew of carbon offsets in an effort to disquiet critics over the Prius’ allegedly limited fuel standards.

Toyota has even created two flower species, derived from the cherry sage plant and the gardenia, planted outside the company’s Toyota City, Japan plant in an effort to absorb harmful gases, create water vapor, reduce surface temperature and lower the plant's energy usage, offsetting its overall CO2 emissions.

As Australian auto site Drive reports, the Toyota plant also features a specially-developed grass that requires maintenance once a year.

Numerous other green capital improvements have been made to the physical plant. Solar panels and special paint that absorbs harmful gases have been installed at Toyota's Tsutsumi plant,solar tubes have replaced some electric light bulbs, and sensors monitor light usage. The corporate dress code has been loosened, to accommodate employees working in a slightly warmer office temperature.

Toyota has come under fire from critics and competitors who lambast their green credentials. Detractors believe Toyota’s manufacturing process cancels out the low emissions of the Prius, and that traditional automobiles have lower emissions. The company denies these plant upgrades are related to the criticism.

This summer, Toyota began advertising in public spots like New York’s Flatiron Plaza, using large flowers offering free public wi-fi and seating. With the addition of the Toyota brand breed of flower, the company seems to hope to create an association between the natural world and the Prius model.

As occasional brandchannel contributor Ingrid Fetell writes on her Aesthetics of Joy site, “joywashing” refers to the use of positive imagery, mantras and images in branding and advertising. Toyota’s use of the flower and their creation of two new breeds is an interesting implementation of the trend: loosely related to the brand, the flowers remind consumers of what they are conserving by driving a Prius.

As consumers' environmental concerns continue to grow, automakers must adapt their R&D, production and marketing. Toyota might consider extending these retrofits and carbon offsets beyond the Prius brand: As it considers expanding Prius into a sub-brand, there are dangers to the rest of its line. Offering two brands, one regular and the other “environmental,” diminishes both brands, leading consumers to believe models like Corolla and Camry are not fuel-efficient, and opening up the "green" line to attack from competitors.

"...As it considers expanding Prius into a sub-brand, there are dangers to the rest of its line. Offering two brands, one regular and the other “environmental,” diminishes both brands, leading consumers to believe models like Corolla and Camry are not fuel-efficient, and opening up the "green" line to attack from competitors."

that concern only makes sense if you consider the Prius' to be an auto1.x variant versus a new auto2.x species

moreover consumers will be making their own minds regarding fuel efficiency (and other things) to pretend one has spin control over that is a mistake

The information in the post is nicely written, I always love to read this kind of stuff. The quality of content is really appreciable. Thanks for sharing your knowledge with us.I feel very happy to hear that Toyota has even created two flower species, derived from the cherry sage plant and the gardenia.

I think that Japanse are very advanced when it comes to research. But that is probably a positive effects of the fact that they have the bighest budget allocated for education and research in the world.